Warping machine



June 2, 1953 M. E. LEBLANC WARPING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 vFiled. Feb. 2l, 1950 `M.- E. LEBLANC WARPING MACHINE June 2, 1953 6 Shee'os-Sheerl 2 Filed Feb. 21, 1.950

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Filed Feb. 2l, 1950 June 2, 1953 M E, LEBLANC 2,640,251

WARPING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 M. E. LEBLANC WARPING MACHINE June 2, 1953 6 SheetsT-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 21, 1950 Inn/Email;

June 2, 1953 l M. E. LEBLANC 2,640,251

l Y WARPING MACHINE Filed Feb. 21, 195o s sheets-sheet 5A June 2, 1953 M. E. LEBLANC 2,540,251

l WARPING MAcHNE Filed Feb. 21, 195o e sheets-sheet 6 Imm/7011.' mam/@E @GE/wa Em/9m, /yf www, @heb ffm@ fino/ma Patented June 2, 1953 2,640,251 wARrrNG MACHINE Maurice Eugne Lebl signor to Societe dE France anc, Chatou, France, astudes et de Modernisations pour lIndustrie Textile (S. A. R. L.), Clichy,

Application February 21, 1950, Serial No. 145,393 In France February 21, 1949 3 Claims.

The present invention relates generally yto warping or similar machines for winding yarn or thread and has particular reference to an improved warping machine permitting the warping beams to be obtained upon which the yarn strands are all of equal length and subjected to the same tension, without resorting to any added member, driving wheel, roller or contact-measuring cylinder to exert pressure upon the warping beam.

It is well known to those skilled in the technique of warping that equality or evenness of tension between the strands of a warp layer is a result which can be obtained only with the utmost difiiculty. In this respect, it has been previously proposed to completely nullify the tension of warp strands, then to impart to them a predetermined equal tension by subjecting them to a certain stretch between a pair of sets of members operated at different speeds. However although devices of this kind have given fairly satisfactory results, they do not provide a method of imparting a perfectly equal tension between the several strands of a warp layer. It is particularly necessary that the strands should be protected from any friction after they have been given the same predetermined tension.

It has been found that although the propagation of a force through an absolutely undistortable solid body is substantially instantaneous, the same propagation does not apply through an extensible body such as a textile yarn.

In the latter case, the propagation of said force takes place in the form of a wave and with a progressive absorption of the momentum. Where, moreover, the textile yarn is subjected to a friction, the propagation of said force is hindered, and its speed undergoes a progressive retardation throughout the irictional zone.

Consequently if one takes a moving textile yarn partly wrapped around a revolving smooth member and effects a relative displacement with respect to said member, the propagation of the force through this textile yarn is progressively slowed down to a residual value which constitutes what may be termed the eiective speed propagation; this effective `speed propagation can be varied by altering the frictional arc of the yarn upon said member so as to nullify the same, thereby achieving a non-slipping displacement of the yarn with respect to said member.

The present invention is based on this principle of progressively nullifying this excess of the effective speed of propagation of the force applied to the yarn by causingthel yarn strands to pass over a number of smooth members that are positively driven at the same speed. It will be easily understood that by mounting a number or set of such smooth members in series relation, as the yarn is drawn by the warping beam, it undergoes a stretching or elongation and causes therefore a creeping effect upon the member or members, as the case may be which are adjacent to the warping beam, and that this elongation and the tension caused thereby will propagate with a decreasing speed.

Owing to this fact, the effective speed of propagation soon reaches a value which is equal to the tangential speed of the said smooth members but of reversed sign, whereby from this point onwards any slippage, whether actual or of vermicular character (creeping) becomes impossible and the yarn strands are moved at a speed determined by that of the said members. When a series of yarn strands arranged in juxtaposed relation are passed or led over the said smooth members`(for example warp strands) the tension of each strand takes the same predetermined value, and the several strands leave the last member of the set at the same sneed so that eclual lengths of yarn are obtained having the samer tension.

One of the objects of the invention is therefore to provide an improved warping machine adapted to furnish warping beams carrying equal lengths of yarn strands under the same tension and with the required accuracy. l

Another object of the invention is to provide a warping machine as aforesaid wherein the actuationof the warping beam is performed from its axis, the beam being so driven as to keep its tangential value at a constant value.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a machine for winding textile yarns or threads wherein'the sameA constructional principles may be applied whether for its operation as a warping machine or for its operation as a winding machine.

According to the invention, there is consequently provided a warping machine permitting warping beams carrying equal lengths of yarn to be obtained under an even tension, this machine comprising a supporting frame, smooth cylinders or rollers (provided in suitable number) constituting a multiple feeder and journalled in the supporting frame and so arranged as to leave between each pair of companion cylinders a gap slightly larger than the yarn diameter, means for imparting to said cylinders a motion at the same speed, and means for imparting to the' warping beam an even tangential speed, the yarn strands furnished by the rack or creel successively wrapping the smooth cylinders over half a circumference and being wound upon the warping beam after having left the last cylinder in the series.

According to the constructional features of the warping machine according to the invention, every other cylinder or roller is mounted upon a movable carrier permitting withdrawal of the same so as to facilitate the insertion of the' yarnstrands between these cylinders, the equally sized pinions being rigidly supported upon the cylinder axes and meshing wi-th one another soas to drive all the cylinders at the same speed.

According to other constructional features of the invention, the actuation of the cylindersl and of the warping beam is performed from one and the same motive member or other source of energy, means being provided for permitting the ratio. of speeds. between these. cylinders. and the.

warping beam to be. varied..

According to. other constructional featnresstill of the invention, means are. provided for driving.

the warpingbeam through its axis so as. to impart thereto a. constant tangential speed inI spite of the progressive increase of its diameter..

In theaccompanying drawingsv are shown constructional embodiments of. the invention.

Fig.. 1 is. a side. elevational view of. a warping machine according to the invention..

Fig.. 2- is a plan viewoil this warping machine showing the patnof the yarn strands.

l'ig.` 3` is an end view oftliev warping machine shown in. Figs.. 1 and 3- along. the line I11`III oi. Fig. 1-,. the movable. cylinders or rollers being. assumed. to be in raised position. for the insertion ofthewarp strands..

Fig. 4 is aside elevational view of a reeling ina-chine. constructed and. operating according, to thesame principles.

Fig. 5 is. anelevationalview, partly. insection, showing. the. device for actuating thev warping beamthroughitsaxis..

Fig. 6 is. a plan. view of this device for actuating the. warping beam.

Fig. 7 is a detail view on a, larger scale..

Reference. being. had to Figs.. 1. to, 3,. it. will be seenv that the warping. machine according to the inventionV comprises. a. frame. l. uponv which are.

xed. opstanding posts4 or. columns. 2 interconnected at their lower. end. by apair of girders 3 carrying bearings.. through. whichare iournalled the axes 5.01'. primary smooth cylindersor rollers S... rEhe posts 2 act as vertical. guides for a` mov-- able. contrivance including collars. 'l arrangedfor sliding motion. along these. posts. and connected by girders 8 provided with bearingsA 9 in which the axes Hl oi secondary smooth. cylinders Il are:y journalled.. The. collars l are connected by cables. l2. engaged over pulleys t3 carried by the posts 2 with a. pair. of pulleys I4. to which the cables I2 are secured at their ends. so. as to be wound. in the opposite direction.. The pulleys lf3, are.. supported by upper braces l5 andv asso.- ciated with` operating, arms I6.. Their common axis lillay also-carries a-band brake l1 which permits. the aforesaid. movable. contrivancev carrying the cylinders. lll. to. be. supported in any desired position` The distribution of the smooth primary and secondary cylinders 6,. Il forming the multiple feeder set along the length of the warping machineis such that when themovable contrivance carrying the cylinders Il occupies itslowermost.

position, the axes 5 and l0 of these cylinders are in a .horizontal plane, the cylinders which are of equal diameters being separated from each other by a gap which substantially corresponds to the diameter of the yarn strands to be warped without, however.. squeezing them so as to avoid their becoming untwisted or unstranded. The axes 5 and I0 terminate on one side of the warping machine in equally sized pinions I8 which mesh with one another in the position shown in Fig; l so as to ensure a positive drive of all the cylindersle and il atthe same speed. The warp strands. to be warped' furnished by the several spools. of the rack. or creel pass under the roller I9 and are then wound in juxtaposed relation upon the smooth cylinders S vand H alternatively whilewrapping eachv cylinder over half a circumierence7 and then move off the-se cylinders in: the direction of the warping beam 2B the arrangement of which is described hereafter.

in the constructional form shown in4 Figs. 1 to 3, the warping beam Z. provided with iiangesl is carried idly upon. an axis supported by a ver-v tical movable contrivance and comprising collars 22 slidably supported by posts 2.3 and carrying armsl 24 which extend downwardly so as. to support the 2in" (Fig. 1)' rigidly supported' by a transverse axis or spindle 2l provided at the lower end of, theposts 2S and carrying operating arms of these pulleys 26A 28. Each is associated. with a band.

brake 29' so as to permit the movable contrivance supporting the warping. beam to be held in` the desired position,v particularly for mounting. the

warping beam 20 upon. the warping machine. or for releasing the same from it.v

The body of.v this warping beam.. 230. normally rests upon a driving wheel 30 having a roughened peripheral' surface and'. such a. Width. as. to. permit.

it to pass withoutfri'ction.between.thefanges.2 l. ofthe warping beam.. This wheell is fastupon a shaft 3i journalled in. thebearings. 32 of the frame l of the warping. machine andLIi-tted.,adja-` cent. one of its ends with a. primary taperingpulley 33'. This pulley is connectedlby abel-t3!! to. a

secondary tapering pulley 3'5. made fast upon the` 2) so. as to permit the position of the belt. 3ft` upon the tapering pulleys 33,. 35 to be varied and consequently the ratio of.V transmission between the. cylinders fi` and the driving wheel 3G having a peripherally roughened stu'face to be altered to suit requirements. Onv the opposite side of the warping machine is provided a stepped` pulley 39 rigidly supported' by the axis 5 or the. last smooth cylinder 6.

motor di! by means of a power transmitter such asa belt 4 I'.

The operation of' the above described is as follows:

In the operating position as shown in Fig. 1,. drive to. the pulley 39. and consequently to theaxis 5 upon whichV it isA the motor 4B impartsv its.

This drive isv transmitted through a-Xis. of.' the warpingy beam. The collars. 2 '2 are connected by cablesv 2.5.` to control pulleys.

This pulley is. imparted a. rota-tion from aprirne mover such as an electric.

warping machine as- I8 to all the. smooth. cylinders 6. and` through the pulleys 33, 35 to thefdriving wheel 30 which revolves the warping beaml by being applied in frictional driving contact with this beam.

The warp strands F from the rack or creel are led over the smooth rollers or cylinders 16,' as shown in Fig. 2 and reach the warping beam 20 on which they are wound. When these strands reach the warping machine, they generally have different tensions andtheir speed is equal to that of the smooth cylinders that is to say is smaller than that ofthe warping beam. It follows, as above described that a creeping or vermicular motion takes place between the strands and those cylinders 3 and Il which are nearest to the warping beam; However, the elongation which causes this creeping motion propagates itself with a progressive absorption and if any particular warp strand `is considered, its tension progressively decreases untill the time when this tension will be such that the strand moves in synchronism with the periphery of the cylinders Wrapped thereby. This final tension of the yarn is determined with accuracy byv the lower limit beyond which there is no longer any creeping on the cylinders. It follows that all the warp strands move off the cylinders E, toward the warping beam under a perfectly equal tension, which permits equally tensioned strands to be obtained on the latter. As illustrated, the number of smooth rollers 6, I| is sufficiently large to cause the total wrapping are on these cylinders to be sufcient to ensure evenness of tension. As the cylinders are driven at the same speed, the strands F also move off from them under the same speed so that equal lengths of yarn are obtained on the warping beam. Considering that the warp strands F reach the -cylinders under different tensions, a line interconnecting the several points of the warp for which the slippage becomes equal to zero would have the shape of a broken line extending transversely to the warping machine.

The constructional modification which is shown in Fig. 4 differs from the preceding constructional form owing to the fact that the warping beam is replaced by a reel or a skeleton frame 42 for winding the yarn strands from a spool (not shown) supported by the spool-carrying spindle 43 at the opposite end of the machine. The control of the reel 42 is performed from the motor 44 which is preferably associated with a speed variator 45 through the medium Y of a stepped pulley 4S on a layshaft and a belt 41 which passes over a pulley 48 rigidly supported by the reel axis. Another pulley 49 permits, owing to a belt 50, the rotation of the cylinders 6, I l (which are similar to those of the previous constructional form) to be operated, the cylinders being supported by -a movable contrivance as above described. As illustrated, these cylinders which constitute the multiple feeder device are subdivided into two sets revolving at different speeds. The speed ratio which determines the tensionvof the strands to be unwound is adjusted by. a device (not shown) of the type visible in Fig. 2 tapering pulleys 33, 35.

The yarn strands are supplied by spools carried by the machine frame I opposite to the reel 42 and are imparted, as they pass over the cylinders B, a determined tension and are then wound upon the reel 42. The operative characteristics of this reeling machine are similar to those of the above-described machine.

In the constructional modiijlcati'onshown Figs. 5, 6 and '1,- the actuation of the warping beam 20 is ensured through its axis so as to give the same a tangential speed of constant value.

In this constructional form, the contrivance includes a primary friction plate or disc |0| keyed to or fast upon the shaft of the output cylinder 6 of the multiple feeder and slidably fitted upon said shaft. The plate |0| is strongly urged by a heli-cal spring |02 interposed between the pinion I8 which drives the cylinder 6 and the hub |03 of said plate against a friction roller |04 fast upon a driving shaft |05 revolubly supported by bearings in the frame of the warping machine.

The driving shaft |05 has keyed thereto a further roller |06 slidably supported thereby and carried through the medium of roller bearings |01 by a carriage |08 having at its lower end a tapped sleeve |09 which co-operates with a control screw-threaded rod l|0. Advantageously the screw-threads of the sleeve |09 and the rod ||0 are of square formation. The control rod H0 is revolubly supported by bearings ||2 carried by elements of the warping machine frame Adjacent one end of the screw-threaded rod ||0 is mounteda worm wheel ||'3 co-operating with a worm||4 carried by a shaft ||5 revolubly supported by bearings H of the frame. The control rod |0 also carries on the one hand a locking wheel |1 by means of which the worm wheel I3 and the screw-threaded rod ||0 can be operatively connected together and, on the other hand, a control wheel H8 the function of which is explained hereafter.

The axis ||5 of the worm |4 has keyed thereto a pulley ||9 connected by a driving belt |20 to a companion pulley |2| forming part of a speed variator of known construction generally designatedv by |22 and including another pulley (not shown) associated through a belt |23 to a further pulley |24 rigidly connected to a secondary friction plate or disc |25 which co-operates with the roller |06.V

The friction plate |25 is keyed to the shaft or axis 20 of the warping beam. This shaft or axis 20 is of teles-copic structure and made up of a pair of angularly interconnected elements |26, |21 which permits the friction plate |25 to be moved off the roller |06Vagainst the action of a helical spring |28 interposed between said plate and the bearing |36 which supports said shaft upon the frame A forked lever |29 pivotally supported upon a pin |30 on the frame cooperates with a grooved hubr operatively connected to the friction plate |25 so as to control the separation of said plate from the friction roller I 0E. The telescopic .arrangement of the shaft |26, |21 is also intended to permit warping beams of different width to be used. In another modication, the plate might also be splined to the shaft without departing from the same constructional principle.

The operation of the device which has just been described is as follows:

The friction roller |04 which co-operates with the plate |0| keyed to the shaft of the output cylinder 6 of the multiple feeder is arranged in a plane which extends tangentially to said cylinder. At the beginning of the warping operation, the roller |06 must be also brought into a plane extending tangentially to the warping beam 20.

This is rendered possi-ble lby the fact that the axis of the driving shaft |05 coincides with the geometrical axis of the warping beam 20 and consequently of the friction plate |25. In order to aardgas effect suchair adjustment, the locking Wheels. H1 shouldl be loosened? and the screwethreaded rod IID should be rotated by means or the control wheel HS while thev lever 12.9 is operated' so as to move the friction plate oi'the roller ttt; thereby moving the carriage 168 and. therefore the roller 06 along. a radius4 of the plate: {2:5 so asl to bring the saine into proper position. Once this` has been done; the screw-threaded rod lill is again clamped up1 to the worm wheel H3 by means of the locking wheel. HT after the position of( thespeedl variato'r l22 has' been adjusted to match the yarn size number and the degree of twist of the yarn, also the warp index and the yarn tension. This adjustment should be eiec'ted once for allA times so as. to suit cach series of warping beams in one andV the same manntacturing ran-ge;

The foregoing; steps place .the warping machine inoperative position. When the yarnis' wound upon. 'the warping beam the rotation of which is controlled by the friction plate tl, the roller Hill, the shaft Ill', the roller i216, the plate {25 and the telescopic shaft IZB-|21, the pulley i12-cl is also revolved; and imparts, through the mediumi of the variator pulleys, the belt |26', the pulley M9, the axis of the worm H4 and the worin wheel H3, and angular displacement tothe control rod HB- which ceo-operates with the tapped sleeve its and axially moves the carriage H18L and consequently the rolle-1' Ill-S along the shaft 165.

The increment of this progressive motion of the roller H25 with respect to the plate i125 is determined by the speed variator 22 the adjust-*1 ment of which` has been effected in accorda-nce with the size of the yarn to be warped and lis `therefore such asto cause the tangential speedof the warping beam to .remain constant. It will be easily understood thatl the plane along which the roller |86 enga-ges the friction plate I25should always remain tangent. to: the warping beam covered with. one or several layers. of yarn.

As will be understood by ythose skilled in the art, constructional modications may be made in` the above described embodiment. by adopting various mechanical equivalents without departing from the principle of. the invention. Thus although the respective locations of the friction rollers. or the contrivance have been described. as adapted to permit warping, beamsy being obtainedv carrying yarn without tension, the possibility is also aiorded to shift said rollersV or one of said rollers at the beginning ofthe warping operation so as to impart va predetermined tension to the warped strands of yarn, for example by bringing the axial plane' of the roller IGI? into a tangential position not with respect to the warping beam but with respectl to a virtual cylinder having a.Y diameter smaller than the body of said beam, the difference between the diameters. of this virtualI cylinder and beam body being in terms of the tension which it is' desired to impart to the yarn strands.

As a further alternative, the rst friction roller and the plate which is fast upon the output cylinder of' the feeder :nicht be superseded by a s'et of bevel pinions.

The control by the wheel H8' might also be replaced by a control including an. independent servornotor.

As a still further alternative, the translationally movable assembly forming a portion of. the feeder may be replaced' by an angularly movable assembly which may be for example journalled upon the axis of the nrst cylinder of the feeder,

said assembly bei-ng so balanced as to be shiftable after having left the last cylinder tically movable 8l Without requiring an undue elort on. the part of the` operator, locking devices being provided' for holding the same selectively either in the operative or in the inoperative position.

Various minor constructional details may be modie'd.' without departing froi i the scope of the subioined claims;

What is claimed is:

11.l In a warping machine interposed' between a raciti feeding' a plurality of yarn strands and a flanged yarn-receiving lbeam and comprising a supporting frame including girders and opstand'- ing' posts, primary smooth cylindersV revoluble iin the frame girders, collars vertically movable alongi said posts', vfu'rther girders interconnecting said collars, bearings on said further girders, secondary smooth. cylinders carried by4 the further girders and staggered to primary cylinders and arranged in the same horizontal plane when the collars are iin their lower position, gap being left between each pair of adjacent cylinders of a size larger than thev cross section of the yarn to be Warped, the set of cylinders forming a multiple yarn-.iurnishex'y means for vertically shitting the movable cylinders and intermeshing pinions of equal diameters fast` upon the respec'- tive ends of the cylinders, that'improvem'ent conrp'rising a prime mover, a power transmitter b'etween said prime mover and' one of the pinionsl a vertically movable contrivance in which the yarn'- receiving beam idly revolves, means for vertically moving said. contrivance, a roughened driving wheel' revol'uble in the frame and having a width matching the space between the yarnbeam flanges, said beam contacting said wheel, a primary tapering pulley rigid with said Wheel, asec'- ondary tapering pulley rigid with the last cylinder or" the set, a power transmitter interconnecting :both pulleys,y and a speed variator so associated' with the pulleys as to cause the yarn-receiving beam tof be driven at a constant tangential speed by said! wheel, vwhereby the yarn strands from the rack wrap each cylinder over a portion of its' circumference and are wound upon said beam in the set.

a warping machine interposed between a yarn-ileedingv rack and a yarn-receiving beam and comprising a supporting frame, primary smooth cylinders revoluble in said' frame, a. vercarrying contrivanoe on the frame, secondary smooth cylinders revoluble in said contrivance and staggered tothe primary cylinders and arranged in the same horizontall plane as the latter when said contrivance is in its lowermost position, each pair of adjacent cy1- ind'ers being separated by a gap wider than the sizeof the yarn., means for imparting equal :ingular speed to all. cylinders and bearings in the frame for supporting the yarn-receiving beam, that improvement comprising a prime mover, a primary friction plate fast with one of the primary cylinders, a friction roller in Contact with said plate, a shaft carrying this roller, a further friction roller splined' upon said shaft, a secondary friction plate fast with the yarn-receiving beam, and means for axially shitting said' further roller along the secondary plate responsive to the length of yarn wound upon the beam so. as to drive the. latter at a constant tangential speed, the-yarn strands from the rack wrapping each cylinder over :a portion of its circumference and being wound upon the beam after having' left the last cylinder of the set.

3. In a warp'ing'mach-ine interposed between a yarnfeeding raclrY and a yarn-receiving beam 9 and comprising la supporting frame, primary smooth cylinders revoluble in the frame, a contrivance vertically movable in the frame, secondary smooth cylinders revoluble in said contrivance, said secondary cylinders being staggered to the primary cylinders and arranged in fa horizontal plane common to them When said contrivance occupies its lower position, each pair of adjacent cylinders being mutually separated by a gap Wider than the size of the yarn being Warped, means for driving all cylinders at the same angular speed, beam-supporting bearings in the frame and that improvement comprising a prime mover, a primary friction plate fast upon the last cylinder of the set, a friction roller cooperating with said plate and arranged in a plane tangent to said last cylinder, an elastic member for urging said plate against said roller, a shaft carrying said roller, a further friction roller splined upon said shaft, an axially movable carriage carrying said further roller, a nut-like sleeve carried by said carriage, a rotatable screw-threaded rod meshing with said sleeve, a worm Wheel fast upon said rod, a worm meshing with said worm Wheel, a primary pulley fast upon the Worm, a speed variator connected to said pulley, a secondary pulley fast upon the yarn-receiving beam and connected to said speed variator so that the rotation of the beam revolves said rod and axially shifts said further roller, a secondary friction plate fast with the beam, and an elastic member yieldingly urging the secondary friction plate to the further roller, the lap of yarn strands led from the rack passing over a portion of the circumference of each cylinder and being Wound upon the beam after having left the lastl cylinder in the set.

MAURICE EUGENE LEBLANC.

References Cited in the file of this patent 

